Too much turkey? Lethargic Raptors fall in Dallas

DALLAS — So good for so long, DeMar DeRozan wasn’t so good last night.

He wasn’t the only reason why the Raptors lost to the host Mavs, but when you’re top offensive player is held under 10 points and makes only three shots, bad things tend to happen.

Kyle Lowry tried to compensate for his backcourt partner’s off night, but the Raptors needed more players to step up on both ends of the floor.

Too many passengers, too many opportunities gone awry, especially down the stretch blown, and the Raptors did not deserve to win, succumbing 98-93.

Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki turned back the clock a bit, scoring 18 points in last nightâs win. Some of them came against Jonas Valanciunas, who struggled, like many of his teammates.The Associated Press

It was inexcusable at how the Raptors played with so little desperation against a team they should beat.

But that’s what happens when teams look at the standings and see their name atop, allegedly inferior teams taken for granted until it matters most.

Despite all their issues, namely a cavalier approach to begin the game, the Raptors had a chance, but when shots don’t drop you don’t win.

It was a one-possession game with 1:38 remaining, the Raptors getting out in transition when stops were made.

A game-tying three-ball by Serge Ibaka rimmed out for the Raptors, who kept Dallas to one shot on each possession.

Ibaka then missed from close range, allowing Dallas to score with 10.2 left, the game’s dagger.

Not often have the Raptors lost this season when allowing fewer than 100 points, but they did on this night because couldn’t make shots.

“None of us came out with the right disposition,’’ began head coach Dwane Casey, who had every reason to be annoyed at what he had just seen, a sentiment shared by GM Masai Ujiri, who sadly made the trip. “Anytime you shoot 33% (Toronto’s final efficiency) you’re not going to beat too many teams in the league.

“Defensively, we tried to lock in down the stretch, but the way they started (scoring 31 first-quarter points) the game going coast to coast.

“We were still on Christmas break. All of us, if we’re serious about competing for a championship, I don’t care who we play, we have to come in with the right approach.”

It was clear from the opening tap, the Raptors weren’t serious about the Mavs.

When they did, they held Dallas to 13 fourth-quarter points.

Had that Ibaka three dropped, chances are the Raptors would have won.

Truth is the Raptors shouldn’t have been in that positions and yet they still had a shot to salvage the night.

DeRozan was 2-of-14 after three periods, including going 1-of-8 in the third where he didn’t make a single trip to the line.

Credit Wes Matthews for his defence on DeRozan in a matchup that historically does not favour DeRozan.

DeRozan makes two or three more shots and the Raptors probably win.

But that hindsight.

The discouraging part to Toronto’s ninth loss of the season was its approach and how little respect it gave the Mavs, who won for only the 10th time.

“Our rhythm was off offensively,’’ said Casey, who recounted the near miss by Ibaka from distance the point-blank attempt that wouldn’t drop.

Toronto’s defence in the final 12 minutes did pick up, but its lack of intensity did give the Mavs confidence, namely veteran guard J.J. Barea, who led Dallas with 20 points coming off the bench.

“It happens,’’ Lowry said of Toronto’s off night. “I think we still could have played harder and played more aggressive, but we had a chance.

“They only scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. We still gave ourselves a chance to win the game, so you have to look at some of the positives.”

Having missed the past three games because of a dental procedure, C.J. Miles was back in the lineup, the Dallas native emerging as the first sub coming off of Toronto’s bench.

He buried a three-ball, one of two attempts Miles attempted, both from beyond the arc, in the first.

He took only one more shot the rest of the way, playing a little more than 10 minutes.

Matthews is considered one of the better wing defenders in the league.

“He was up into him (DeRozan), not giving him a lot of space, sending bodies to him early, crowding him, kick outs and once he kicks it out we have to make shots,’’ said Casey.

“We didn’t play our game, the intensity, the proper approach to start the game and by the time we tried to turn it on it was too late.”

Perhaps a long-awaited wake-up has been provided as the Raptors don’t have any time to dwell on the loss with Oklahoma City now up next as the last back-to-back of the season concludes tonight.

“I told these guys before. We have no right, no way we should ever look at a team, record, and if we don’t come out and play with a certain way in a certain style, offensively and defensively,” Casey said.

“Mentally, we’ve got to be ready. We talked about it before the game. Until we get consistent with that approach, we’re going to be whistling Dixie.”

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